Dynamic query perormance

Hi All,

I am developing a simple set returning function as my first step towards more
complicated processes. I would like to understand the implications of using
the dynamic query capability.

I have built two forms of an identically performing function. The first uses
a simple IF-THEN-ELSIF-THEN-ELSE structure to choose which query to run. The
second builds the query dynamically using the FOR-IN-EXECUTE structure and a
CASE statement.

The documentation
(http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.0/interactive/plpgsql-control-structures.html#PLPGSQL-RECORDS-ITERATING)
indicates that a dynamic query (EXECUTE) is replanned for every LOOP iteration.

This is like the previous form, except that the source
SELECT statement is specified as a string expression,
which is evaluated and replanned on each entry to the
FOR loop. This allows the programmer to choose the speed
of a preplanned query or the flexibility of a dynamic
query, just as with a plain EXECUTE statement.

That seems like a potential performance problem. I don't understand why the
query would be planned for every LOOP iteration when the LOOP is over the
record set.

Your comments are appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Keith

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION func_item_list("varchar")
RETURNS SETOF VARCHAR AS
$BODY$
DECLARE
v_status ALIAS FOR $1;
r_item_id RECORD;
BEGIN
-- Build the record set using the appropriate query.
IF lower(v_status) = 'active' THEN
FOR r_item_id IN SELECT tbl_item.id
FROM tbl_item
WHERE NOT tbl_item.inactive
ORDER BY tbl_item.id
LOOP
RETURN NEXT r_item_id;
END LOOP;
ELSIF lower(v_status) = 'inactive' THEN
FOR r_item_id IN SELECT tbl_item.id
FROM tbl_item
WHERE tbl_item.inactive
ORDER BY tbl_item.id
LOOP
RETURN NEXT r_item_id;
END LOOP;
ELSE
FOR r_item_id IN SELECT tbl_item.id
FROM tbl_item
ORDER BY tbl_item.id
LOOP
RETURN NEXT r_item_id;
END LOOP;
END IF;
RETURN;
END;
$BODY$
LANGUAGE 'plpgsql' VOLATILE;

SELECT * FROM func_item_list('Active');

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION func_item_list("varchar")
RETURNS SETOF VARCHAR AS
$BODY$
DECLARE
v_status ALIAS FOR $1;
r_item_id RECORD;
BEGIN
-- Build the record set using a dynamically built query.
FOR r_item_id IN EXECUTE 'SELECT tbl_item.id
FROM tbl_item' ||
CASE WHEN lower(v_status) = 'active' THEN
' WHERE NOT tbl_item.inactive '
WHEN lower(v_status) = 'inactive' THEN
' WHERE tbl_item.inactive '
ELSE
' '
END ||
' ORDER BY tbl_item.id'
LOOP
RETURN NEXT r_item_id;
END LOOP;
RETURN;
END;
$BODY$
LANGUAGE 'plpgsql' VOLATILE;

SELECT * FROM func_item_list('AcTiVe');